Mrs. Page’s Philosophy The Aims of Education Schools should provide optimal educational opportunities for all students: ·to learn how to become responsible, contributing members of the community ·to reach their maximum ability, and ·to become independent, life-long learners.
The Preferred School Climate The school should encourage a sense of community among its members.The community should:
be caring, respectful, encouraging, inquiring, flexible, collaborative, technology minded and committed to learning,
be connected to a larger surrounding community, and
recognize and welcome members of this larger community as valuable contributing members.
Combining a quality professional staff with active volunteers committed to learning, helps shape young minds and destines.
The Image of the Learner Children differ in ability, rate and mode of learning, life goals, interest and motivation.Each learner:
is an individual with individual needs, but capable of succeeding and learning.
desires to learn and will learn if motivated in ways that are authentic and appropriate in individual differences.
posses vast amounts of knowledge based on their experiences.
The Preferred Pedagogy To compete with a highly technical culture, classrooms must:
actively pursue knowledge and understanding in a “learn by doing, hands-on” learning environment.
be literature rich and technologically up to date.Literature and multimedia are dynamic tools to teach concepts and to illustrate new ideas.
believe in ongoing evaluation of students and teachers.
value the process of finding an answer, as well as the product.
As schools encourage children to become active life-long learners, the pursuit of learning becomes a worthwhile, satisfying and challenging experience.
Types of Homework Reading Your child will bring home our reading book on Wednesday nights.Please have your child read the story directly to you.Always discuss the story.You may use the comprehension questions I sent home to guide your discussions.Eventually, additional homework will be sent home to complete along with reading the story.
Baggy books will be sent home occasionally to read for enjoyment at home.For every minute your child reads at school a penny is earned on their money tree.These books are at your child’s reading level.Please always use the five finger rule when selecting books to read.I have attached this rule to the packet.
Once the children become more comfortable with school I will send home book projects to complete.I will go into more detail about these at a later date.Your child will enjoy these!
Math There will be papers from our Home Link book, fact papers to complete, flash cards to practice and worksheets to reinforce and offer practice in concepts covered. You will take your child’s Math Home Link book home at Open House.It will stay at home.If it gets lost you will need to purchase another one.The homework page from that book will be indicated within the assignment book. Handwriting There will be practice sheets to complete to reinforce your child’s printing skills.
Writing Various styles of writing will be assigned throughout the school year.The collection will be sent home by May.The students will utilize the writing process to publish individual pieces.
Spelling There will be a total of 16 words weekly that the children will have to learn and retain.
Your child will be given a spelling pretest on Mondays.The words on the spelling pretest are from the expected word list for all second graders at Five Points Elementary East and West.
However, if your child proves mastery over the words given on the spelling pretest an enrichment list will be given on Tuesday to study for the week.Your child can miss no more than two words on the spelling pretest to be given an enrichment list.
Please note, if your child is given an enrichment list he or she will still be given the 16 initial words that were given on the spelling pretest.The final spelling test is given on Friday.The final spelling test score is the grade that will be entered into my progress book for your child’s spelling grade.However, if your child has an enrichment list I will also give them a second test over their challenge words.This grade will be sent home for you to review with your child.
Always look on Tuesday for the words to be sent home.Initially, the children will begin with 16 spelling words.It will be important that you review these words with your child throughout the week.Especially the words he or she misspelled on the pretest.
Spelling homework will only be given on Tuesdays.It is due on the following day each week.The homework will always be stapled onto the spelling pretest.If you have an enrichment list, your homework will be completed with that new list.Please know your primary concern should be the core second grade list for the final spelling test.
Again, the spelling test will be given on Friday of each week.However, on weeks that are shortened a note will be written within the weekly newsletter about any change in homework or testing.
Homework Tips:
You must let your child know that homework is a top priority at your home.
Make sure your child has a quiet place to work that contains all supplies he or she may need to do the work.
Set aside a predetermined time for homework each night.Insist that it is done at that time.
Give positive support when your child does homework and provide consequences when they choose not to complete their work.
Feel free to contact me if there is something that concerns you.
You should expect at the most 20 minutes of homework a night.Please sign your child’s assignment book every night.
Assessments Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Tests Every Thursday, these two tests will be completed by your child.
Story Map Tests These types of tests will be given at least two times a month.
Spelling Tests The Pretest will be given on Monday, and the Final Test will be given on Friday.
Math Tests These will be administered at the end of each unit.
Science and Social Studies Tests After we finish each unit a test will be completed by the class.
Grading System:
You will see a percentage given this year in each subject.
There are still plus, minus and check marks given underneath the percentage grade on the report card or progress report.
Any paper that is graded will come home with a point value and a percentage.All other papers will be sent home stamped or check marked.
Identification Numbers Each student has one seven digit number that he or she needs to memorize.These numbers are used for the lunch line and the computers.
Take Home Folders
Please check your child’s folder nightly for important papers and homework.Their reading log and behavior chart are also included inside.I will send home papers nightly as I grade them and enter them into my progress book.
Birthdays Please let me know as your child’s birthday is approaching, if you would like to send in something for the celebration.The note will allow me to set aside a good time.Currently, we do not have any food allergies.Therefore, all I ask is that the treat is easy to clean up.Summer birthdays will be celebrated the last few weeks before school is out. Schedule
9:05 Students Arrive
9:10 Classroom Meeting Time
10:20 Reading Instruction
11:20 Word Study
11:40 Lunch and Recess
12:40 Restroom Break
12:50 Special
1:35 Math Instruction
2:35 Writer’s Workshop
3:20 Recess
3:35 Closing and Sharing
3:55 Dismissal
Note that on Social Studies and Science are integrated into the Shared Reading, Guided Reading and Centers.Fridays are special because we focus primarily on poetry during our reading instruction.
The Aims of Education
Schools should provide optimal educational opportunities for all students:
· to learn how to become responsible, contributing members of the community
· to reach their maximum ability, and
· to become independent, life-long learners.
The Preferred School Climate
The school should encourage a sense of community among its members. The community should:
- be caring, respectful, encouraging, inquiring, flexible, collaborative, technology minded and committed to learning,
- be connected to a larger surrounding community, and
- recognize and welcome members of this larger community as valuable contributing members.
Combining a quality professional staff with active volunteers committed to learning, helps shape young minds and destines.The Image of the Learner
Children differ in ability, rate and mode of learning, life goals, interest and motivation. Each learner:
The Preferred Pedagogy
To compete with a highly technical culture, classrooms must:
- actively pursue knowledge and understanding in a “learn by doing, hands-on” learning environment.
- be literature rich and technologically up to date. Literature and multimedia are dynamic tools to teach concepts and to illustrate new ideas.
- believe in ongoing evaluation of students and teachers.
- value the process of finding an answer, as well as the product.
As schools encourage children to become active life-long learners, the pursuit of learning becomes a worthwhile, satisfying and challenging experience.Types of Homework
Reading
Your child will bring home our reading book on Wednesday nights. Please have your child read the story directly to you. Always discuss the story. You may use the comprehension questions I sent home to guide your discussions. Eventually, additional homework will be sent home to complete along with reading the story.
Baggy books will be sent home occasionally to read for enjoyment at home. For every minute your child reads at school a penny is earned on their money tree. These books are at your child’s reading level. Please always use the five finger rule when selecting books to read. I have attached this rule to the packet.
Once the children become more comfortable with school I will send home book projects to complete. I will go into more detail about these at a later date. Your child will enjoy these!
Math
There will be papers from our Home Link book, fact papers to complete, flash cards to practice and worksheets to reinforce and offer practice in concepts covered.
You will take your child’s Math Home Link book home at Open House. It will stay at home. If it gets lost you will need to purchase another one. The homework page from that book will be indicated within the assignment book.
Handwriting
There will be practice sheets to complete to reinforce your child’s printing skills.
Writing
Various styles of writing will be assigned throughout the school year. The collection will be sent home by May. The students will utilize the writing process to publish individual pieces.
Spelling
There will be a total of 16 words weekly that the children will have to learn and retain.
Your child will be given a spelling pretest on Mondays. The words on the spelling pretest are from the expected word list for all second graders at Five Points Elementary East and West.
However, if your child proves mastery over the words given on the spelling pretest an enrichment list will be given on Tuesday to study for the week. Your child can miss no more than two words on the spelling pretest to be given an enrichment list.
Please note, if your child is given an enrichment list he or she will still be given the 16 initial words that were given on the spelling pretest. The final spelling test is given on Friday. The final spelling test score is the grade that will be entered into my progress book for your child’s spelling grade. However, if your child has an enrichment list I will also give them a second test over their challenge words. This grade will be sent home for you to review with your child.
Always look on Tuesday for the words to be sent home. Initially, the children will begin with 16 spelling words. It will be important that you review these words with your child throughout the week. Especially the words he or she misspelled on the pretest.
Spelling homework will only be given on Tuesdays. It is due on the following day each week. The homework will always be stapled onto the spelling pretest. If you have an enrichment list, your homework will be completed with that new list. Please know your primary concern should be the core second grade list for the final spelling test.
Again, the spelling test will be given on Friday of each week. However, on weeks that are shortened a note will be written within the weekly newsletter about any change in homework or testing.
Homework Tips:
You should expect at the most 20 minutes of homework a night. Please sign your child’s assignment book every night.
Assessments
Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary Tests
Every Thursday, these two tests will be completed by your child.
Story Map Tests
These types of tests will be given at least two times a month.
Spelling Tests
The Pretest will be given on Monday, and the Final Test will be given on Friday.
Math Tests
These will be administered at the end of each unit.
Science and Social Studies Tests
After we finish each unit a test will be completed by the class.
Grading System:
Identification Numbers
Each student has one seven digit number that he or she needs to memorize. These numbers are used for the lunch line and the computers.
Take Home Folders
Please check your child’s folder nightly for important papers and homework. Their reading log and behavior chart are also included inside. I will send home papers nightly as I grade them and enter them into my progress book.
Birthdays
Please let me know as your child’s birthday is approaching, if you would like to send in something for the celebration. The note will allow me to set aside a good time. Currently, we do not have any food allergies. Therefore, all I ask is that the treat is easy to clean up. Summer birthdays will be celebrated the last few weeks before school is out.
Schedule
9:05 Students Arrive
9:10 Classroom Meeting Time
10:20 Reading Instruction
11:20 Word Study
11:40 Lunch and Recess
12:40 Restroom Break
12:50 Special
1:35 Math Instruction
2:35 Writer’s Workshop
3:20 Recess
3:35 Closing and Sharing
3:55 Dismissal
Note that on Social Studies and Science are integrated into the Shared Reading, Guided Reading and Centers. Fridays are special because we focus primarily on poetry during our reading instruction.
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